3 Killed in BGB Firing: Petition seeks compensation for families
A writ petition filed with the High Court yesterday sought its directive upon the government to compensate the family members of those killed and injured in a clash between locals and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members in Thakurgaon.
Three people were killed and at least 16 others suffered bullet wounds on Tuesday as a BGB patrol team opened fire following a scuffle with locals during seizing of several smuggled cattle.
The petition submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Tonoy Kumer Saha also challenged the legality of BGB's operation at the scene on the day of the incident.
The BGB members' action was “illegal” as their duty was to protect the border area, not to seize smuggled cattle and shooting locals, Tonoy told The Daily Star.
The constitutional right of the people, who were killed and injured in the clash, has been curbed, he said, adding that the HC may hear the petition next week.
Following the incident on Tuesday, Moniruzzaman, superintendent of police in Thakurgaon, said a patrol team of the BGB went to a village in Haripur upazila by a locally made three-wheeler in the morning to seize smuggled cattle.
At one stage, the BGB personnel got into an altercation with villagers, who encircled them. The BGB men failed to calm the villagers, and opened fire, the SP told this newspaper over the phone.
Asked whether home ministry would investigate the incident, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said, “No one is above the law.”
He did not make any further comments.
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